The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-23
FARM TALKS.
Farm Hints for Decem Der.


pleting most of the work which was
planned for November, and perhaps
commencing some of the improve
ments that have been previously
Neglected for lack of the spare time to
devote TO them.
Fields which are to be planted or
,own early next Spring have been
olowcd, and, in some instances, tile
manure has been plowcd in. while in
others it will be put on during the
Winter, as there may be time for it.
Such fields will dry out in good con-
iton for working much earlier than If
they had been left unplowed, and where
he soil contains sufficient sand and
gravel to be frlable, they can be fittes
for planting by the use Of the disk
harrow, without the necessity OF ploN-
ing again in the Spring Yet If tins
allows. cross blowing. not quite as
deep as the Fall blowing, and the use
If the harrow afterward, will undoubl-
sdly be better. There is no danger OF
stirring the soil too much. or getting it
too well pulverizcd before putting in
seed of any kind. and the smaHer the
seed to be put in, the greater the need
of making a fine seed bed for it.
If the open weather continues much
other work may be done which will
help to tighten the labors of the Spring,
or add to the value of the farm.
Stones and small boulders may be re-
moved from the cultivated fields. and
put where they will be out Of the way
Of the plow in future, and where they
will prove benefit to the farm. Per-
maps in some road or cart path used in
reaching the more remote parts OF this
farm there is slough into which a
few loads of small stone might be
dumped, thus greatly increasing the
capacity of the team to draw wood,
hay or manure to or from those fields.
Perhaps some unsigbtly frog pond or
,wampy place nearer home, which
serves only to breed mosquitoes and
malarial disorders, might be reclaimed
# the muck were thrown out OF it, and
{ was used as place of deposite for
stones until it were so nearly full that
they could be covered again, and good
land made OF the spot which was be-
lore only nuisance and an offence to
the eye and the nostrls.
There may be basins which cannot he
easily drained by bitches, either be-
cause the latter must pass through
some other persons land, or because
the cost OF the ditch would be too great.
In such places well sunk for eight or
ten feet deep, aud filled with stones
nearly to tho top, will usually effectu-
ally drain from one to two rods around
it, and the earth thrown out will raise
the surrounding surface.
PREPARING FOR WINTER.
Yet the warm weather should not
tempt us to forget that winter must
soon como. or to neglect those prepare
tons for it which would have been
made If there had been the usual num-
Der of cold days in November. The
mendng of broken windows, battenlng
Of cracks. and banking up of outside
walls to keep out the winds and frosts,
must not be forgotten.
A temperature below freezing in sta
bles. piggery or henhouses means the
requirement of extra amounts OF food
Tor the animals therein. and dim
mutton in production of milk and eggs,
and as it requires but little labor to
shut out the wind and to line walls
with few rough boards, and pack
hay or straw between them and the out
side wall, so that the outside tempcra-
ture cannot affect the inside very much,
it seems that farmers should do this.
not only from desire to increase the
comfort of their animals and the profit
n keeping them. but out of regard ia
their own comfort while taking care Of
them.
The barn cellers, open upon one
side, into which the cold air blows, moi
only cooling the floor above, but search
ing out every crack through which il
may make its way upward, are &C
couutable for many cold stables and
many sick animals. 1t would be econ
omy to board up the open side every
Fall and allow it to be closed until
Spring. and even better to close it en-
tirely. excepting to place doors by
which IL could be entered with team